Time to deck the halls...

Just over a week to go until Christmas and I still haven’t managed to get my decorations up. To be fair, we normally don’t put them up until mid-December so we’re really only a little later than usual this year, but when everyone else seems to have put theirs up at the start of December (and sometimes earlier), it does feel like we’re very late at getting them up. Hopefully we’ll find the time over the next couple of days to get them down from the loft – once they’re up it will really feel like Christmas is on the way.

Ocean Ward Christmas party

Our third Christmas party of the year was the Families of Ocean Ward Christmas party – organised by other heart parents who have had their children treated at the same hospital as Jessica was treated at. Jessica thoroughly enjoyed herself in the soft play area and on the bouncy castle although wasn’t quite so sure this year about meeting Father Christmas although she did like the present! Sophie wasn’t impressed at all at seeing Father Christmas and voiced her objection to it all in no uncertain terms (although being hungry may have also had something to do with it as well!)

Christmas rush

The run-up to Christmas is always such a busy time. Every year, I think I’ll be more organised and not leave everything to the last minute; I’ll start writing the Christmas cards towards the end of November so that I’m not rushing to get them written in time to get posted so that they’ll reach people before Christmas and every year it feel s like somehow Christmas still manages to sneak up on me and it all ends up being a last minute rush. Of course, having a new baby this year does give me an excuse for being disorganised!

Christmas party chez Cameron

We have had such an amazing day attending a children’s Christmas party at no. 10 Downing Street which we were invited to through the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice charity (Jessica’s community nurse is an Alexander nurse). Jessica and Sophie seemed to thoroughly enjoy the day and we got to meet the Prime Minister, children’s TV presenters Dick and Dom and some of the remaining celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing and their professional partners (which we were very excited about, being huge Strictly fans). Jessica and Sophie also got to see Father Christmas – all in all it was a wonderful day.

Nativity scenes

I've been taking photos today for our family Christmas card. Last year’s was a photo of Jessica in her Santa dress in front of the Christmas tree. This year, I decided that a nativity scene with Sophie and Jessica would work quite well and would also mean that Jessica wouldn’t have to hold Sophie or we wouldn’t have to try and prop her up. She wasn’t too keen on being in the basket with the hay though despite having a pillow underneath and so we had to be quite quick at taking the photo before she started voicing her objections!

Sophie's first party

Sophie went to her first ever Christmas party today with her big sister. Jessica had a lovely time at the party – it was so lovely to see how much more she enjoyed it this year compared to last year, how she really was interested in the children’s entertainer and seeing Father Christmas and watching her dancing was delightful. Sophie was completely underwhelmed by her first ever party and slept through most of it. But still, it was lovely to have a day out as a family and to take our two girls to a party in their matching party dresses.